Fairfield PD photos of the damage caused when Sandy slammed into the East Coast Monday night. See more of the photos on their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.413160518737214.99679.379653075421292&type=1 (Fairfield Police Dept.)

Fairfield PD photos of the damage caused when Sandy slammed into the East Coast Monday night. See more of the photos on their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.413160518737214.99679.379653075421292&type=1 (Fairfield Police Dept.)

Fairfield PD photos of the damage caused when Sandy slammed into the East Coast Monday night. See more of the photos on their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.413160518737214.99679.379653075421292&type=1 (Fairfield Police Dept.)

Fairfield PD photos of the damage caused when Sandy slammed into the East Coast Monday night. See more of the photos on their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.413160518737214.99679.379653075421292&type=1 (Fairfield Police Dept.)

Fairfield PD photos of the damage caused when Sandy slammed into the East Coast Monday night. See more of the photos on their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.413160518737214.99679.379653075421292&type=1 (Fairfield Police Dept.)

Fairfield PD photos of the damage caused when Sandy slammed into the East Coast Monday night. See more of the photos on their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.413160518737214.99679.379653075421292&type=1 (Fairfield Police Dept.)

Sloane Yavarkovsky stands in knee deep water in front of his home on Mellow Street in Fairfield, Conn. Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Yavarkovsky said flood waters from Hurricane Sandy covered the second step to his home, behind him.

Sloane Yavarkovsky stands in knee deep water in front of his home on Mellow Street in Fairfield, Conn. Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Yavarkovsky said flood waters from Hurricane Sandy covered the second step to his

FAIRFIELD -- There's something about being driven home through floodwaters by National Guard troops in a Humvee that opens a person's heart.

Three women who grew up in town and have enjoyed the beach all their lives have organized a cleanup effort Sunday that is expected to draw more than 600 volunteers, organizers said.

Lindsey Morton, Katie Boland and Kelly Niznansky got the idea for the effort from seeing the wrecked furniture and ruined possessions that have piled up since the Oct. 29 storm in front of damaged houses. Three days after the storm Niznansky and her mother, Kathy, were driven back to Kathy's house on Penfield Road by the military unit deployed in their neighborhood after they failed to get through in a kayak.

The women used social media, particularly Facebook, to get the word out about Sunday's cleanup.

"We grew up in Fairfield and we were looking to do something to help the victims living near the beach," Morton said. "It seemed that everyone wanted to help those affected, but were having trouble finding a way to do so. We decided to name the date, time and place and the response was immediate."

Since the Facebook page was created last Sunday, more than 600 people have committed to participating during some or all of the seven-hour effort. Volunteers are to meet at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the Jennings Beach parking lot to organize the cleanup and assign teams to particular houses or stretches of beach.

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By the numbers
More than 6,550 Connecticut residents in Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven, and New London counties have registered for federal disaster assistance.
More than $2.1 million has been approved for housing assistance, including short-term rental assistance and home repair costs.
More than $134,000 has been approved to cover other essential disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses and lost personal possessions.
More than 600 households have received FEMA grants to help pay for temporary housing.
More than 1,400 inspections of damaged properties have been conducted.
More than 4,800 disaster loan applications have been issued by the federal Small Business Administration. Of that number, more than 3,800 are for home loans, with more than 900 applications from businesses.

Kathy Niznansky said Friday that she didn't cry when Tropical Storm Irene damaged her Penfield Road home last year, or when she first saw the extensive damage to her home from Sandy. But she was overcome with pride at the efforts her daughter and her daughter's friends are making.

An eighth-grade history teacher at Tomlinson Middle School, Kathy Niznansky hasn't returned to her classroom since Sandy hit. Instead, she is dealing with insurance companies, federal officials and contractors as she prepares to rebuild her home for a second time.

"But at least I have a home. Some of my neighbors have lost everything,'' Niznansky said. "I'm amazed at how quickly this cleanup came together. It's all over the school system, too."

Morton said the effort will focus on the outside of the damaged homes, and volunteers will be provided with the tools and materials to do yardwork and gardening.

"The other aspect of our event is that we will be collecting supplies necessary for cleanup. Supplies can be donated for those residents living by the beach affected by the storm as well as approximately 300 Fairfield University students who are now currently without housing," Morton said in an email. "We will have volunteers organizing the collection at the Jennings Park site that day. Lastly, Operation Hope will be on site to collect non-perishable food items,"

More than 100 Fairfield University students and alumni, who created a separate Facebook group to round up volunteers, will also be participating.

Organizers are still seeking donations from businesses for materials and supplies, as well as food and water for the volunteers.

Halley Ciglia, a social worker at Fairfield Warde High School, said work gloves, rubber gloves, masks, wheelbarrows, large leaf bags and rakes are needed. Children and teens who want to volunteer are welcome, Ciglia said in an email, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

The first stop for the board was the recently-rebuilt Penfield Pavilion, rendered unusable by Sandy until repairs are made. Water breached the bulkhead that surrounds the pavilion, undermining pilings and buckling the floor and deck.

"Maybe they'll be able to salvage enough of it," Vice Chairman Robert Belllitto said. Town Engineer Laura Pulie has said the pavilion, built to FEMA standards for a 100-year storm, is indeed repairable.

While on the tour, the board members realized there were many questions that needed answers, such as whether repairs to Penfield would be covered by insurance.